EU has reached a general agreement on permanently halting imports of Russian gas

The main institutions of the European Union (EU) reached a general agreement on December 3rd to permanently halt imports of Russian gas by November 2027. This move aims to deprive Russia of its military capabilities due to its continued aggression against Ukraine and to pressure it to accept a peace plan.

The proposal from the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, reached a general consensus in the Council of Ministers (comprising ministers of member states) and the European Parliament (the legislative body). The proposal will be implemented after formal ratification.

Firstly, member states will gradually cease imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of December 2026. Pipeline gas supplies from Russia will cease by the end of September 2027. A grace period until the end of October 2027 will be provided if member states have low reserves.

EU leaders agreed to gradually halt imports of Russian energy in March 2022, but imports have continued in practice since then.

According to data from the European Commission, dependence on Russian natural gas has decreased from 45% before the Russia-Ukraine conflict to 13% in the first half of 2025, but the EU still imported €10 billion worth of Russian gas in 2024.

The EU has already banned imports of Russian coal through sanctions and has decided to gradually phase out oil imports. The European Commission plans to propose an oil embargo bill in early 2026.